Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s sued over lead found in candies

SAN FRANCISCO — California has filed a lawsuit against Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s and other food retailers, alleging they are selling ginger and plum candies tainted by lead without warning labels required by state law.

Attorney General Kamala Harris’ office filed the lawsuit on Tuesday in San Francisco Superior Court.

The suit claims the retailers and candy makers “knowingly and intentionally” exposed consumers to lead in violation of Proposition 65, which requires businesses to issue warnings about even minute amounts of chemicals deemed harmful by the state. The suit says laboratory tests verified lead in the products.

If found true, the candy makers and retailers could be fined up to $2,500 per day for each violation.